#set expectations for the dog to hold still and be mostly passive and not interfere with the groom | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

girlhorse · 1 year

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fr id be so sad if i had to cut enzos hair down but if i cant get my shit together soon that might be what has to happen until im in a better/more stable position. part of it is that it keeps getting Longer and so i have to groom more frequently and for longer sessions. this is also the most harrowing time in a havanese dogs life (around 9-18 months) when theyre 1) dealing with adolescence and 2) have a chance of having a very difficult coat change (blowing puppy coat and developing the undercoat, which in non-shedding breeds can cause some messy, easily matted hair!)

as a result enzo has been losing a lot of confidence on the grooming table and is less tolerant of it. He's not getting pissy or biting at all, just wiggly and low key stressed, which sucks bc he needs to be up there for me to deal with his crazy teen hair =_= The crazy hair is making him even Worse because sometimes theres a bit of a mat i need to get out (at this point i have been clipping them out to avoid causing him discomfort)

it's also spring, which means theres a ton of burrs and seeds everywhere, and the grass is growing tall. so every time we go outside he gets so many little things in his hair. it's a nightmare sometimes LMAO

#gab gabs #literally got a little reel mower so i can at least cut down the grass in my yard #i hate grass but i have a landlord #pray for me #we are working on some cooperative care techniques and handling exercises #but no one ever talks about how youre supposed to keep up with hair maintenance consistently when training isnt finished but your dog has #urgent and ever present grooming needs #this is probably why so many havanese breeders and showdog people use a more balanced and non R+ approach #no ones out here punishing their dogs its more like #they do NOT go cooperative care route #they use very light force #its not cruel but it can be hard for some dogs and owners (me) to adjust to #but i do think cooperative care is pssible im just not a great trainer #also fwiw all the breeders i know do praise and treat their dogs and will not push a dog that is having a major panic attack. they just #set expectations for the dog to hold still and be mostly passive and not interfere with the groom #and usually dogs are rewarded after!#also most of them consistently groom from puppyhood onward which means theyre more likely to be accepting of the process as they age #my dog has always been a little uncomfortable with it but he was getting better #just a bit of a teenage regression #SORRY FOR RANT LMAO

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